The New York Times published a visually stunning infographic and 255 charts that display the industries where jobs have grown and others that have not been as lucky. But, does it really feel like we are back to the pre-recession job market? Also, we discuss the whether or not the role of sexual identity matters in politics in this era. Then, it's Filmweek on AirTalk!
Inside the post-recession economy: A look at the industries of tomorrow
Friday's Labor Department numbers show a fourth month of growth with 217,000 jobs added to the U.S. economy, while the unemployment rate holds at 6.3 percent.
Five years since the Great Recession tapered, America has regained all the jobs lost during the downturn. Does it really feel that way though?
In a stunning infographic and 255 charts, The New York Times illustrates which sectors are flourishing, which have been the victim of the recession and how wages are faring. If you are in the housing sector, chances are your outlook has not been sunny. Folks in the health care field and luxury goods have less trouble finding work, but the wages are lackluster.
If you are interested in job mobility, where do you place your hopes? If your industry, such as bookstores and florists, has suffered, how do you find an edge or stay resilient?
Guest:
Gary Burtless, Labor Economist, The Brookings Institution; The New York Times consulted with him to produce the aforementioned infographic.
To hear this segment, click on "Listen Now in the upper left.
Have LGBT advances changed the meaning of gay pride and politics in SoCal?
The LA Gay Pride Parade is taking place this weekend in West Hollywood. Last year, Prop 8 was overturned and the Defense of Marriage Act was repealed — huge, seismic leaps toward true equality for the modern gay rights movement.
On the political front, Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) became the first lesbian to become the head of the California Assembly last month, but her ascension felt more historical for her being the first politician from San Diego to assume the position than anything else.
Robert Garcia this week was elected Mayor of Long Beach, the first openly gay and Latino to hold that post. But his sexuality was no more talked about during the election than his ethnic heritage and his age (at just 36 years old).
Historically, pride parades were about visibility and political empowerment, but has the meaning of gay pride observation changed for you in the wake of the political victories the community has had over the last few years?
Does the sexuality of a political candidate matter to you anymore? Are you as likely to vote for someone who identifies as LGBT today? Is a candidate’s sexuality enough of a “swing factor” for you? Politically, are we entering a “post-gay” phase in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California?
California Chrome: How would a Triple Crown victory impact SoCal horse racing?
Only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown, and the last victory was over thirty years ago. This year, California Chrome has a shot at the crown -- he’ll race in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday alongside 10 other horses.
California Chrome is coming off impressive victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and has 3-5 odds in the Belmont Stakes. Excitement about a potential Triple Crown winner is at a peak in the racing community and beyond, Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman is predicting a win for the horse and jockey Victor Espinoza.
What goes into a Triple Crown victory? Who has won in the past, and what are Chrome’s chances? How might a big victory for California Chrome impact the sport?
Guests:
Alan Balch, Executive Director of California Thoroughbred Trainers
Mike Willman, Director of Publicity at Santa Anita Racetrack
FilmWeek: Edge of Tomorrow, The Fault in Our Stars, Obvious Child and more
Larry and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Henry Sheehan review this week’s releases, including Edge of Tomorrow, The Fault in Our Stars, Obvious Child and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Edge of Tomorrow
The Fault in Our Stars
Obvious Child
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt FilmGuide
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com
The Last Real Movie Star? Tom Cruise from 'Risky Business' to Oprah's couch and beyond
The film reel that flutters through your mind when thinking of Tom Cruise likely includes the "Risky Business" boxers scene, the iconic "Magnolia" monologue and a real-life vignette of Cruise jumping maniacally on Oprah's couch.
RELATED: Cruise's 'Tomorrow' may flop: Is the era of the movie star over?
As Amy Nicholson recounts in her new book:
“[W]hen Cruise began his publicity tour for War of the Worlds, he and his new flack (and sister), Lee Anne DeVette, were totally unprepared for TMZ, Perez Hilton, and the terrifyingly mean-spirited new world of celebrity journalism. They screw up. Miscalculating this new fan fixation on “real” lives, Cruise finally decided to open up to the press—way up.
On Oprah, he professed his love for his girlfriend of one month, the 16-years-younger TV actress Katie Holmes. He was so excited about possibly proposing to a near stranger that on national television, he pumped his fists dropped to his knees and holler "I can't be cool! I can't be laid-back!"
The moment was remixed and reposted all over the Internet, and his image was tarnished nearly instantaneously. What else impacted the image of Tom Cruise? Is it fair to focus so much on his religion - if it’s unrelated to his work? How did his early career choices create an exceptional career? Does he need to rehabilitate his star power? If so, how?
Guest:
Amy Nicholson, Chief Film Critic, LA Weekly; Author of forthcoming "Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor" (Cahiers du Cinema/Phaidon Press); Recent LA Weekly cover story: How YouTube and Internet Journalism Destroyed Tom Cruise, Our Last Real Movie Star